The peaceful farming community of Datsiedu-Ziope in the Agortime-Ziope District has been thrown into a state of shock and mourning following the alleged murder of a 90-year-old man, Christopher Agboka.
The victim, affectionately known in the community as Gbagbladza, was reportedly killed on Tuesday, January 6, following a disagreement regarding the harvesting of coconuts on his property.
According to Mr. Seth Adorvlo, the Assemblyman for the Ziope Electoral Area, the tragedy was sparked when the suspect, 32-year-old farmer Edem Kpotsodzi, began plucking coconuts from the elderly man’s farm. Mr. Agboka reportedly approached the younger man and asked him to stop, advising that the fruits were not yet mature enough for harvest.
The request reportedly infuriated Kpotsodzi. In a violent escalation of the dispute, the suspect is alleged to have returned to his house to retrieve a knife. He then returned to the farm and attacked the 90-year-old, stabbing him multiple times in the stomach. The severity of the assault caused catastrophic injuries that resulted in Mr. Agboka’s death.
Following the incident, the suspect fled the scene, prompting a search by local authorities. He was subsequently apprehended by the police and is currently being held in custody.
Sources at the Ziope Police Station have confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect is assisting with ongoing investigations into the homicide. Meanwhile, the local community remains in a state of disbelief as they process the loss of one of their oldest residents over a minor farming disagreement.
